Combination tire temperature, pressure and depth measuring device

ABSTRACT

A hand-held device for measuring tire pressure and temperature including a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an optical pointer, a processor responsive to an output of the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor, and a display. The processor is configured to output a value on the display indicative of a measured tire pressure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/665,352, filed Oct. 31, 2012, which claims the benefit ofand priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/553,691,filed Oct. 31, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated byreference herein for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sensing systems, and moreparticularly, to temperature, pressure and depth gauges.

BACKGROUND

Periodically checking a vehicle's tire pressures and tread depths isrecommended to ensure its safe and efficient operation. As such, tirepressure gauges are popular tools for a driver to have at his or herdisposal, as are tread depth gauges. It is also well understood thattire pressure is dependent on temperature. For example, when a vehiclewith its tires initially at ambient temperatures (e.g. a vehicle thathas been stationary for a period of time) is driven, the temperature ofits tires generally increases, as the air within the tires is heated by,for example, friction generated between the tires and the road surface.This heating causes a corresponding increase in the tires' internalpressure. Likewise, changes in ambient temperatures affect a tire'sinternal pressure. As a result of this behavior, vehicle manufacturersgenerally supply recommended tire pressures which are associated with aparticular temperature. More specifically, recommended tire pressuresare typically given as “cold pressures”, corresponding to the internalpressure of the tire measured when its temperature is around 20° C./68°F. to 22° C./72° F. (i.e. room temperature, hereinafter referred to as“nominal” temperature), as distinct from a “hot pressure”, or a pressuremeasured when the tire's temperature is above this range. An exemplary“rule of thumb” used by many dictates that a change of temperature of+/−10° F. accompanies a rise or fall of pressure of about 1 psi. Itfollows that in order to accurately set tire pressures, knowledge oftire temperature at the time of measuring and/or filling/deflating maybe required.

Alternative systems and methods for providing fast, convenient andaccurate tire monitoring are desired.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for measuring tirepressure and temperature is provided. The system includes a pressuresensor, a temperature sensor, a processor responsive to an output of thepressure sensor and the temperature sensor, and a display. The processoris configured to output a value on the display indicative of a measuredtire pressure and an indication of measured tire temperature. Theindication of the measured tire temperature comprises an indication ofthe result of a comparison between measured tire temperature and apredetermined temperature value.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a tire pressure andtemperature measuring device is provided. The device includes a housingcomprising a first portion and a second portion, having a pressuresensor arranged within the first portion of the housing and associatedwith a nozzle arranged on a first outer surface of the first portion ofthe housing, and a temperature sensor arranged within the first portionof the housing. The temperature sensor is associated with a firstopening on the first outer surface of the first portion of the housing.The device further includes a processor arranged within the housing andresponsive to an output of the pressure sensor and the temperaturesensor, as well as a display arranged on a second outer surface of thefirst portion of the housing. The processor is configured to output avalue indicative of at least one of a measured tire pressure and ameasured tire temperature to the display.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method ofoperating a temperature and pressure measuring device. The methodincludes receiving by a processor measured tire temperature data andmeasured tire pressure data. The processor compares the measured tiretemperature to a predetermined temperature value, and provides dataindicative of to a display for displays a result of that comparison on adisplay along with the measured pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination temperature, pressure anddepth measuring device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of a display screen for anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary sensory and controlcircuit arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is process flow diagram illustrating an exemplary mode ofoperation of a device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a combination temperature, pressure and depthmeasuring device according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the presentinvention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevantfor a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating,for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in temperature,pressure and depth measuring devices. However, because such elements arewell known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a betterunderstanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements isnot provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all suchvariations and modifications known to those skilled in the art.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specificembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that the various embodiments of the invention, althoughdifferent, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Furthermore, aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein inconnection with one embodiment may be implemented within otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement ofindividual elements within each disclosed embodiment may be modifiedwithout departing from the scope of the invention. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appendedclaims, appropriately interpreted, along with the full range ofequivalents to which the claims are entitled. In the drawings, likenumerals refer to the same or similar functionality throughout severalviews.

Embodiments of the present invention include measuring devices, such ashandheld devices that provide for at least non-contact temperaturemeasurements and pressure measurements in a single self-contained unit.Embodiments of the present invention may include a housing configured tobe directed toward (i.e. aimed) at an object to facilitate temperaturemeasurement via an infrared (IR) detector arranged within the housing.More specifically, an IR sensor may be mounted on or within the housing,and configured to sense IR radiation emitted from the object (or from asurface thereof) along a sensing axis extending from the housing. The IRsensor may output a signal indicative of the detected energy, whichenergy is indicative of the temperature of the object or surface, to acontrol circuit for subsequent processing and/or display.

Embodiments of the present invention may include an optical pointingdevice arranged within the housing. This device may emit visible lightalong an aiming axis to assist a user in pointing the IR detector at adesired target. The pointing device may comprise, for example, a laserdiode or other source of a narrow visible light beam that may bearranged proximate to, or co-located with, the IR sensor. The housingmay also include a pressure sensor in communication with a port forattaching to, for example, a Schrader valve of a tire. In oneembodiment, a depth measurement device is also included and mounted onor within the housing. A display device may be provided on or within thehousing for displaying measured temperature, pressure and/or depthvalues to a user.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3, a combination temperature, pressureand depth gauge or measuring device according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention is shown. The gauge 10 includes, for example, ahousing 11 comprising an upper housing portion 12 and a lower housingportion 13. In the illustrated embodiment, lower housing portion 13comprises a handle having a generally elongated profile and including,for example, curved or contoured surfaces thereon configured to be heldby a hand of a user. Lower housing portion 13 may also be configured tocontain, for example, all or part of a depth measuring arrangement. Thedepth measuring arrangement may comprise, by way of non-limiting exampleonly, a potentiometer operatively connected to a plunger 18 formeasuring tread depth. In operation, a sliding actuator 19 (FIG. 3) maybe arranged on a surface of housing 11, such as in lower housing portion13, and attached to plunger 18, allowing a user to manually extend orretract plunger 18 with respect to housing 11 by urging sliding actuator19 away from upper housing portion 12 to extend plunger 18, and towardupper housing portion 12 to retract plunger 18. Once extended, plunger18 may be inserted into the tread void or groove of a tire, and housing11 pressed flush with the tire's outer surface. Plunger 18 will be urgedinto housing 11, until its length extending beyond housing 11 isgenerally equal to the depth of the tire's tread. An output of thepotentiometer corresponding to this length may be provided to aprocessing and/or display arrangement for providing a visual indicationof the tire's tread depth to a user.

Upper housing portion 12 may include a first face comprising one or moreports or openings, such as an optical pointer opening 14 and atemperature sensor opening 15, as well as a nozzle 16 in communicationwith a pressure sensor. Nozzle 16 is adapted to engage with and open avalve (e.g. a needle or Schrader valve) of a tire valve stem in aconventional manner for providing pressurized fluid to the pressuresensor. An optical pointing aid, such as an LED or other light sourcewith suitable lensing, or laser source (e.g. a laser pointer), may bearranged within opening 14, while a temperature sensor, such as an IRsensor/detector, may be arranged within opening 15. As set forth above,the IR sensor may detect radiated energy along a sensing axis extendingfrom opening 15. The optical pointing aid is arranged proximate to, orco-located with, the IR sensor. In this way, the illuminated aiming axisand the IR-sensing axis may be essentially parallel (or slightly angled)to one another, such that the optical pointing aid illuminates a dot orother small area on the surface of an object toward which the IR sensoris directed, providing a user with immediate visual feedback as to theaiming of the IR sensor. The user may thus accurately aim the IR sensortoward a desired target (e.g. a tire's tread or sidewall) whileperforming a temperature measuring operation.

Referring generally to FIG. 8, in yet another embodiment of the presentinvention, IR-sensing axis α, and more preferable IR-sensing axis α andthe illuminated aiming axis, may be oriented at a predetermined non-zeroangle with respect to at least nozzle 16 (or an axis thereof). Morespecifically, the angle between nozzle 16 and IR-sensing axis α mayfixed such that when nozzle 16 is attached to a valve of a tire,IR-sensing axis α is aimed generally at the sidewall of the tire. Inthis way, simultaneous temperature and pressure measurements may be madeby a user. In other embodiments, at least one of the IR sensor andnozzle 16 may be adjustable in angular orientation. Referring still toFIG. 8, in one exemplary embodiment, opening 15 and an associated IRsensor (and pointing aid) may be mounted within a second housing 81.Second housing 81 may be moveably (e.g. slidably or rotatably) mountedto upper housing portion 12 of housing 11 such that the IR-sensing axisangle may be adjusted relative to nozzle 16 (e.g. between positionsindicated by IR-sensing axes α and α¹). In this way, a user may, forexample, connect nozzle 16 to the valve of a pneumatic tire, and adjusteither the angular position of nozzle 16 or the angular position of theIR sensor so the IR-sensing axis is oriented at the tire's sidewall.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-2, a user input, such as a trigger, actuatoror button 17, may be provided on housing 11 in a convenient location foractuation by a user holding gauge 10 in a conventional fashion. In oneembodiment, trigger 17 may be used to activate one or more of the devicefunctions. For example, trigger 17 may be used to actuate the lightpointing function alone, or in conjunction with a temperature measuringfunction. Trigger 17 may be located on lower housing portion 13 adjacentupper housing portion 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, therebyfacilitating actuation by a user's index finger while holding lowerhousing portion 13.

With respect to FIG. 3, a second face of upper housing portion 12 mayinclude a user interface including, for example, one or moreuser-interface buttons 22, as well as a display 20. The second face ofupper housing portion 12 may be generally opposite to the first face ofupper housing portion 12. As the second face is generally opposite tothe first face, the user may observe displayed temperature and pressurereadings on display 20, and control device functions using buttons 22,while taking tire pressure and temperature readings. Buttons 22 mayprovide control of device functions, including, but not limited to,temperature scanning, pressure measurements, tread-depth measurements,and reset functions. In one embodiment, depressing a button associatedwith a function may initiate one or more modes of operation, includingassociated processing functions specific to that mode.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIGS. 1-3. Asillustrated, housing 11 of gauge 10 may be generally hollow foraccommodating each of the temperature, pressure and depth-measuringsub-systems, and their associated control processor(s). As set forthabove, gauge 10 may comprise one or more ports or openings on a firstface thereof associated with a corresponding sensing or output device.For example, opening 15 is associated with IR sensor 42, opening 14 isassociated with laser source 41, and nozzle 16 is arranged incommunication with a pressure sensor 43. Nozzle 16 is in physicalcommunication with a sealed chamber in which pressure sensor 43 islocated, so that opening of nozzle 16 causes fluid under pressure, e.g.,air from a pressurized tire, to enter the sealed chamber. In theillustrated embodiment, each of IR sensor 42, laser source 41 andpressure sensor 43 are arranged on a common circuit board mounted to andheld within housing 11. Arranged in the lower housing portion 13 ofhousing 11 may be the depth measuring arrangement, including, forexample, plunger 18 and sliding actuator 19 operatively connected to apotentiometer 45.

A second circuit board 40 may be provided within housing 11 for mountingcontrol circuitry, including a processing system, thereto. One or moreof IR sensor 42, laser source 41, pressure sensor 43, trigger 17,potentiometer 45 and buttons 22 may be operatively connected to thisprocessing system. The output of the processing system may be providedto a display 20 operatively connected to second circuit board 40. Apower supply 44, such as a battery, may be arranged within housing 11for powering any or all of the sensors and their associated controlcircuitry.

Referring generally to FIG. 5, an exemplary display 20 is shown. Asnoted above, display 20 may comprise, by way of non-limiting examplesonly, an LCD, LED, or OLED screen for displaying measured information,as well as device operating status. In the illustrated embodiment,display 20 comprises a first series of indicators 52 comprising aplurality of lights, or back-lit icons, indicating, for example, thestate of the optical pointer (on or off), a temperature scan inprogress, as well as the current selected mode of operation. Modes ofoperation may include temperature measurement mode, pressure measurementmode, and/or depth measurement modes. Depending on a selected mode ofoperation, screen sub-section 54 may comprise an area for displayingmeasured results of tire pressure and/or tread depth, with accompanyingunits (e.g. pressure and/or depth, with one or more types of measuringunits for each) being displayed by a second series of indicators 56.Screen sub-section 58 may configured to display a measured tiretemperature and to selectively illuminate icons to indicate Celsius orFahrenheit measuring units.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide an additional set ofindicators configured to alert a user to a tire's measured pressure inthe context of its temperature. For example, screen sub-section 57 mayinclude indicators for providing a user information regarding thecurrent measured tire temperature as it relates to the nominaltemperature, and thus to a manufacturer's recommended pressureassociated with this nominal temperature. In the exemplary embodiment,the temperature indicators may be color-coded (e.g. red, yellow andgreen). If, for example, the tire temperature is measured to be within apredetermined range, such as a range defining nominal temperature (e.g.20° C./68° F. to 22° C./72° F.), a green indicator may be displayed.However, if a measured tire temperature is above this temperature range(e.g. greater than 22° C./72° F.), a red indicator, for example, may beilluminated, indicating to a user that a tire pressure measurementreading will be higher than one made at nominal temperatures. Inresponse to this indication, a user may take tire temperature underconsideration using, for example, the +/−10° F. per psi rule, whilecalculating any necessary adjustments to tire pressure. Likewise, if themeasured temperature of the tire is below the nominal temperature range(e.g. less than 20° C./68° F.), a yellow indicator may be illuminated,indicating that the measured tire pressure will read lower compared tomeasurements made at nominal temperatures, and the tire pressure mayneed to be adjusted accordingly. Thus, these indicators aid a user inmore accurately setting tire pressures by taking into account thetemperature of the tire at the time of the pressure measurement.

It should be understood that other exemplary indicators, such as othercolor schemes (e.g. blue for below a nominal range, gray for within thenominal range and red for above the nominal range), text, graphical, orsymbol-based indicators may be implemented without departing from thescope of the present invention.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the processing system maybe programmed to calculate, for example, a value indicative of apressure change associated with a measured differential between thetire's measured temperature as compared to nominal conditions, includingwhether the differential is above or below nominal conditions. Forexample, the processor may be programmed to utilize the general rule of+/−10° F. per psi to indicate how much, and in what direction, a tire'smeasured pressure has been shifted (ΔP_(T)). More specifically, if theprocessor determines based on IR sensor data that the tire temperatureis, for example, 20° F. above nominal (e.g. 88-90° F.), the processormay cause the display to indicate to a user that the tire pressure isreading approximately two psi higher than it would at nominaltemperatures.

Further still, the processor may be configured to display atemperature-adjusted pressure to a user. More specifically, theprocessor may output the measured pressure value adjusted for thecalculated temperature-dependent pressure change (ΔP_(T)), wherein:

P _(Adjusted) =P _(Measured)+/− ΔP_(T)

From this information, a user can more easily determine what adjustmentsto the tire pressure are necessary in order to achieve the factoryrecommended settings.

Moreover, the processor may be configured to store a target tirepressure, or target tire pressure range, in a data storage device of theprocessing system. For example, a user may enter the manufacturer'srecommended cold tire pressure range into the device, wherein theentered value may be stored for further processing. The device may beconfigured to permit a user to select an operating mode for input of arecommended cold tire pressure value, or values of upper and lowerlimits of a recommended cold tire pressure range, such as by usingbuttons 22. Using this information, the processor may be operative to,for example, compare a stored recommended cold tire pressure value, orcompare an upper and a lower value of the stored target pressure range,to a measured pressure, and output an indication to the user if themeasured tire pressure does or does not fall within this range, or isoutside of a maximum range above or below a set value. Likewise, theprocessor may give an indication of whether a measured pressure fallsabove, below, or within this predetermined pressure range. Furtherstill, the processor may be operative to make comparisons between atemperature-adjusted measured tire pressure and the target pressure orpressure range. Similarly, the processor may adjust the target tirepressure, or target tire pressure range for a measured temperature, andcompare this adjusted pressure range to the measured, uncorrected tiretemperature. In any of these embodiments, indications may be providedby, for example, the above-described color-coded indicators.

Referring generally to FIG. 6, a simplified diagram of a sensor andcontrol arrangement 60 is provided according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Embodiments of the present invention may becontrolled by one or more processors 48 receiving inputs from any or allof the sensors described above. “Processor”, as used herein, generallyrefers to a circuit arrangement that may be contained on one or moresilicon chips, and/or integrated circuit (IC) boards, and that containsa Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU may generally include anarithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logicaloperations, and a control unit, which extracts instructions from memoryand decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.

For example, processor(s) 48 may receive inputs from pressure sensor 43,IR sensor 42, and potentiometer 45. Processor(s) 48 may be responsive tothese input signals to generate outputs corresponding to measuredtemperature, pressure and/or tread depth. These outputs may be providedto a user via display 20. Processor(s) 48 may also be responsive to userinputs, such as those received from trigger 17 for controlling thefunction of laser source 41, or to inputs received through buttons 22.One or more memory devices 50 may also be in communication withprocessors 48. Memory devices 50 may be configured to store, forexample, instructions executable by processors 48 for performing thedescribed device functions, nominal temperature values, measured data(e.g. temperature, pressure, depth), as well as user-input data, such asthe above-described predetermined pressure values or ranges thereof.Memory may take the form of one or more random-access memory (RAM),read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), or electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM) chips, by way of furthernon-limiting example only. Power supply 44, such as one or morebatteries, may be provided for powering processor(s) 48, as well as forpowering any or all of the remaining system components. Each of theforegoing components may be mounted in or on housing 11.

It should be noted that embodiments of the present invention may includeany number of additional components not shown in the simplifiedschematic of FIG. 6 for the purposes of brevity. For example, theoutputs of any or all of the sensors may comprise analog signals whichmay be provided to one or more analog to digital converters (ADCs)before being input to processor(s) 48. Likewise, the output fromprocessor(s) 48 may provide appropriate control signals either directlyto display 20, or to a display driver that subsequently provides forcontrol of the display. For any mode of operation, a hold circuit may beused to hold a measured reading in memory, and/or on display 20 for aperiod of time after a measurement has been taken, allowing a user timeto analyze the information after taking a measurement.

Moreover, regarding temperature measurement, because actual temperatureas determined by IR emissions is a function of an object's (e.g. a tire)emissivity, processor(s) 48 may utilize a fixed emissivity constant(typically about 0.95) to calculate an accurate temperature from theoutput of IR sensor. In other embodiments, the device may allow a userto input an emissivity constant for use by the processor to calculatetemperature.

Referring generally to FIG. 7, an exemplary method of operation of thedevice is provided. Method 70 generally includes a process for measuringa tire's temperature and pressure, wherein the user is provided an alertindicating whether the measured pressure is above, below, or within atemperature range corresponding to a manufacturer's recommended tirepressure. In step 71 of the exemplary method, a user may place thedevice into a temperature measuring mode by pressing a button indicativeof a temperature mode, the device will then await an input signal from,for example, trigger 17, indicating that the device is aimed at the tire(step 72). Upon receipt of an input from trigger 17, the device willactivate an IR sensor and an optical pointer in step 73, and ameasurement of the tire's temperature will be recorded, displayed,and/or stored into memory. A user desiring only a temperaturemeasurement may read the measured temperature off of the device display,after which the device will wait a predetermined period of time before,for example, turning itself off. However, referring generally to step74, if within the predetermined period of time, an input signal from thepressure sensor is received (indicating the user has associated thenozzle of the pressure sensor with a valve of the tire), the device willenter into a combination temperature/pressure mode. In this mode, tirepressure may be displayed along side the measured tire temperature. Theprocessor may then compare the measured temperature to theabove-described nominal temperature range in step 76. In step 77,depending on the results of this comparison, the device will activate anindicator signaling a measured temperature at, above or below thenominal range (e.g. with the red, green and yellow indicators),signaling to a user how the measured pressure has been affected by thetire's temperature. In this way, a user will be alerted to the need toadjust the tire's pressure to account for this temperature bias.

The exemplary illustrations are provided by way of example only, andother embodiments for implementing the processes described herein may becontemplated by one of skill in the pertinent art without departing fromthe intended scope of this disclosure. For example, the processes may beimplemented, by way of example, by memory containing instructions, theinstructions when executed by a processor, cause the steps of thedescribed methods for measuring tire pressure, temperature, and depth tobe performed. It is understood that these may also be performed inhardware. Thus, the entire process or any part thereof, may be performedin hardware, software or any combination of hardware and/or software.Software may be embodied in a non-transitory machine readable mediumupon which software instructions may be stored, the stored instructionswhen executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps ofthe methods described herein.

While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to theabove-described embodiment, various modifications and changes can bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly,all such modifications and changes are considered to be within the scopeof the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and the drawingsare to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, show by way ofillustration, and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which thesubject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may beutilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments isdefined only by the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations of variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tire pressure and temperature measuring devicecomprising: a housing defining a handle configured to be held by a handof a user; a pressure sensor arranged within the housing and arranged influid communication with an aperture formed in the housing; atemperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a surface of atire; an optical pointer configured to illuminate a portion of thesurface of the tire during measurement of the temperature of the surfaceof the tire by the temperature sensor; a display arranged on the housingso as to be visible to a user when the optical pointer is illuminatingthe portion of the surface; and a processor arranged within the housingand configured to, responsive to outputs of the pressure sensor and thetemperature sensor, output a value indicative of at least a measuredtire pressure to the display.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thetemperature sensor comprises an IR sensor having a sensing axis, andwherein the temperature sensor is at least one of slidably and rotatablymounted to the housing such that the orientation of the sensing axis maybe adjusted relative to the housing.
 3. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a depth measuring sensor arranged within the housing; and amoveable plunger extending from an end of the housing, wherein the depthmeasuring sensor is configured to output to the processor a valueindicative of a length of the plunger extending from the end of thehousing, and wherein the display and the plunger are arranged so thatthe display is visible to the user when the plunger is extended into atire tread.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to calculate a value of a pressure change associated with themeasured tire temperature compared to a nominal condition and output thecalculated value of the pressure change to the display.
 5. The device ofclaim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to output anindication on the display of whether the pressure change is an increaseor a decrease compared to a pressure associated with the nominalcondition.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to calculate and output on the display a value indicative ofa temperature-adjusted pressure according to the measured pressure andmeasured temperature.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor isconfigured to calculate the temperature-adjusted pressure according tothe following relationship:P _(Adjusted) =P _(Measured)+/− ΔP_(T) wherein ΔP_(T) is a calculatedtemperature-dependent pressure change, P_(Measured) is the measuredpressure, and P_(Adjusted) is the temperature-adjusted pressure.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the aperture formed in the housing incommunication with the pressure sensor is formed on a side of thehousing generally opposite a side of the housing on which the display isarrange.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising an actuatorarranged on the housing and operative to control the operation of theoptical pointer, the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor.
 10. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to outputa value indicative of a measured tire temperature to the display,wherein the value indicative of measured tire temperature comprises oneof a discrete: first indication if the measured tire temperature isabove a predetermined temperature range; second indication if themeasured tire temperature is below the predetermined temperature range;and third indication if the measured tire temperature is within thepredetermined temperature range.
 11. A method of detecting anddisplaying tire temperature and pressure with a hand-held measuringdevice, comprising: illuminating an area of a tire by an optical pointerof the measuring device; measuring the temperature of the tire proximatethe illuminated area by a temperature sensor having a sensing axisextending from the measuring device; receiving by a processor of themeasuring device data indicative of the measured tire temperature fromthe temperature sensor; measuring tire pressure by a pressure sensor ofthe measuring device; receiving by the processor data indicative of themeasured tire pressure from the pressure sensor; and outputting from theprocessor to a display a value indicative of a measured tire pressure;and displaying the value of the measured tire pressure by the display.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the display is arranged on a firstouter surface of the measuring device that is arranged generallyopposite a second outer surface of the measuring device from which thesensing axis of the temperature sensor extends.
 13. The method of claim11, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an IR sensor, and whereinthe temperature sensor is at least one of slidably and rotatably mountedto the measuring device such that the orientation of the sensing axismay be adjusted relative to the measuring device.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising the step of measuring a tread depth of thetire by a depth measuring sensor, the depth measuring sensor comprisinga moveable plunger extending from an end of a handle of the measuringdevice, wherein the depth measuring sensor is configured to output tothe processor a value indicative of a length of the plunger extendingfrom the end of the handle of the measuring device.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising the steps of calculating by the processor,and outputting from the processor to the display, a value indicative ofa calculated pressure change associated with the measured tiretemperature compared to a nominal condition.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising the steps of determining by the processor, andoutputting from the processor to the display, an indication of whetherthe pressure change is an increase or a decrease compared to a pressureassociated with the nominal condition.
 17. The method of claim 11,further comprising the steps of calculating by the processor, andoutputting from the processor to the display, a value indicative of atemperature-adjusted pressure according to the measured pressure andmeasured temperature.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein thetemperature-adjusted pressure is calculated according to the followingrelationship:P _(Adjusted) =P _(Measured)+/− ΔP_(T) wherein ΔP_(T) is the calculatedtemperature-dependent pressure change, P_(Measured) is the measuredpressure, and P_(Adjusted) is the temperature-adjusted pressure.
 19. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the steps of illuminating the area of thetire with the optical pointer, measuring the temperature of the tireproximate the illuminated area and measuring the tire pressure areperformed responsive to a step of receiving an activation signal from anactuator arranged on a handle of the measuring device.
 20. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising the step of outputting from the processorto the display a value indicative of a measured tire temperature,wherein the value indicative of measured tire temperature comprises oneof a discrete: first indication if the measured tire temperature isabove a predetermined temperature range; second indication if themeasured tire temperature is below the predetermined temperature range;and third indication if the measured tire temperature is within thepredetermined temperature range.